Sport Eating: MLB Parks Unveil New Concession Items For '13 Season

Several MLB teams are rolling out new concessions for the '13 season, and the Pirates yesterday introduced new items consisting of "both healthy choices and items that will have ambulance drivers on high alert," according to Jon Schmitz of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. A notable addition to the options at PNC Park is the Brunch Burger, a patty made from Angus beef and ground bacon that is "topped with maple bacon, a fried egg and cheddar cheese, and served on a glazed donut that has been sliced in half and toasted on a grill.” PNC Park's Rivertowne Brewing Hall of Fame Club offers the Scotch Egg, a "hard-boiled egg surrounded by spicy Italian sausage that is breaded and deep-fried and served with Rivertowne's signature Fire Sauce.” Club Founder Christian Fyke said that the space is open “to all fans,” and will serve “six craft beers.” Additionally, two new “healthy choices will debut this year, a tomato and mozzarella salad dressed in balsamic vinaigrette and an heirloom tomato watermelon salad.” Also, Levy Restaurants is “opening two new stands” on the club level. Meanwhile, Pirates Exec VP & CMO Lou DePaoli said that the "All You Can Eat Seats Presented by Pepsi" have moved to “five sections in the right-field side of the stadium's club level.” DePaoli acknowledged that “isolating the section in the club level will put a stop to fans sharing the bounty with those who didn't buy the special tickets" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/29).

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER...:In Ft. Worth, Gordon Dickson writes the Rangers are “putting more boom" into their concessions by offering fans "even more oversized food items that are sure to be a home run with gluttons, but containing enough fat and sodium to make nutritionists balk.” Rangers officials on Thursday “unveiled a menu featuring new variations on the Boomstick -- a 24-inch goliath of a hot dog with enough chili, cheese and other toppings to feed four or five people.” This season, the “popular mega dogs can also be topped with brisket, or polish sausage and sauerkraut.” The new Beltre Buster burger “features a pound of beef and 8 ounces of bacon.” Other items include a 24-inch "Murph-a-Dilla" quesadilla named after RF David Murphy, and "steak sandwiches featuring meat provided” by CEO Nolan Ryan's company (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/29).

A BOTTLE OF RED:In K.C., Jeff Rosen notes Royals fans at Kauffman Stadium this season “will be able to purchase single-serve vino in an innovative ‘glass.’” Made by a company “called Zipz, the 187-milliliter vessels, which resemble medieval goblets, come in either ‘Quartz White’ or ‘Crimson Red’ blends.” Zipz said that the “recyclable cups, which contain one-fourth the amount that’s in a standard 750-ml bottle, will retail between $9 and $11 at the ballpark.” They also will be “available in grocery stores this summer” (K.C. STAR, 3/28).